Page 40 of Date and Switch

Esther poked her head in at that moment iPad at the ready.

“Mr. Ellis you asked me to come and get you at four o’clock which is in fifteen minutes. I’ve arranged for dinner to be set at seven thirty. All the packages were delivered to the ship, a gentleman by the name of Paolo received them as your steward and assured us they would be put away with the utmost of care.”

“And my special request?”

“Was delivered to Ms. Miller.”

Penn raised his eyebrows towards me over the sip from his water bottle but didn’t comment.

“You mentioned you wanted me to host a meeting with all of our buyers for the boutiques?”

“Oh! Yes. Thank you for reminding me, Esther. Please inform any of our buyers current and potentials that every hotel shop we operate will accommodate all sizes of men and women. Regardless of supposed stock considerations. I’m firm on this decision, Esther.”

“Of course, Mr. Ellis.”

She smiled. Not a quick, tight smile that said I know that is the last directive and I’m leaving for the evening. That smile felt like pride. It was as if she’d put a gold star on my chest and patted my head.

“One last thing, Esther. There was a gentleman on the ship named Teddy Arnold. I believe I sent you his contact information and that of his assistant. Please coordinate our schedules. I think we’ll need to meet for golf. Oahu or the Big Island preferably.”

I turned to Penn. “We arrive in Hawaii in five days. Can you get away and meet us in Hawaii? This Teddy fellow Sera introduced me to might prove to be a good resource. Maybe we have some alternates to Gilroy that we haven’t explored.”

Esther nodded and typed into her iPad, I’m assuming to coordinate a flight and hotel for my brother.

“I hope you take some time to actually vacation, Mr. Ellis. While this suntan looks great on you, what would really look great is some of those stress lines disappearing from your face. You’re too young to carry such heavy burdens.”

“Oh, sure, Esther,” Penn teased. “You tell him not to work as hard, yet you send me emails at six in the morning.”

“That’s what happens when you move to a different time zone, dearie. You get to adjust to working on New York time now.”

“Esther, I could write sonnets in appreciation of you and still it wouldn’t suffice.”

I honestly would be lost without her. As would Penn. For as much shit as she had to take from us, the woman deserved to have a statue erected in her honor.

“Oh please. Save the sonnets for the charming red head. I’m old and already married.”

She affectionately patted my shoulder and saw herself out, closing the door behind her.

“You’re being awfully generous for just a travel partner. Using the personal shoppers, arranged dinners, having Esther send an Academy Awards level amount of dresses FedEx International Overnight to Brazil for some cheesy dinner with the ship captain?”

“My life is my business.”

Penn could fuck off. Not all of us were lucky enough to have found the loves of our life at five. Even if it did take the idiot another thirty-five years to realize it and marry her.

“Oh good at least you aren’t denying it. I guess that’s a step in the right direction.”

Penn began to gather his things, collecting his laptop and notepad and placing them in his bag.

“Whatever you’re doing in your personal, private business, just remember that her life has spun into a whirlwind with this adventure. You’ve become internet celebrities. Tillie said they think you’ll hit a million followers within the month or so. Remember this ship is going to make its final stop eventually and she’ll go back to a normal life in Boston. Don’t play around with her just because you’re lonely and rebounding.”

“Penn, you have absolutely no idea what you’re talking about.”

Sera wasn’t a rebound. I didn’t know what she was or where our definitions fit. She was more than a travel partner, more than a friend, we were intimate, and I had no intentions of ceasing that. But more than sexual intimacy, we shared emotional intimacy as well.

“We’re dating.”

“So you are fucking. Tillie was right!” He pumped his fist into the air like a baboon signaling from a tree top.

“That is absolutely none of your business and I won’t have these juvenile locker room talks with you.”

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